Fuel composition



FUEL COMPOSITION Alexander Leggin, Bethesda, Md.

Application October 18, 1954 Serial No. 463,040

1 Claim. (CI. 44-17) No Drawing.

This invention relates to a fuel composition. More particularly the invention relates to a composition which may be used for example, in briquet form as a solid fuel.

It is an object of the present invention, among other things, to provide a fuel composition in briquet form which can be readily ignited with the flame of an ordinary match and will be quickly brought to a kindled state. The fuel thus kindled will provide a uniform bed of hot coals in a period ranging from ten to thirty seconds after application of the match flame to the fuel composition of the present invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a smokeless and flameless fuel composition in lieu of fuels ordinarily employed for grilling and broiling foodstuffs over an open bed of hot coals. The fuel of the present invention has the unexpected advantage of quick ignition without excessive or prolonged flame, smoke, odor or other objectionable characteristics possessed by ordinary kindling materials such as paper, wood chips, gasoline, alcohol, or other combustible materials. In addition, the period of time required to bring the fuel to the desired embered condition for grilling, broiling and cooking is reduced from periods ranging from fifteen minutes up to one hour for ordinary charcoal and the like, to a matter of less than a minute and to not more than approximately thirty seconds in the case of the fuel of the present invention.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fuel in the nature of a homogeneous mixture, including charcoal as an ingredient, and conveniently formed into briquets.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a kindling fuel for igniting other combustible materials which are otherwise difficult to ignite.

While it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that certain modifications may be made in the concept disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is found that a fuel composition which provides the most satisfactory results is that having as its constituents sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, manganese dioxide, sodium acetate, and sodium bicarbonate, the total of such constituents being not more than forty percent by weight of the fuel in which it is incorporated. The remaining sixty percent or more of the weight of the fuel is made up of conventional combustible materials such as charcoal, coke, coal, or the like.

By way of illustration and without intending thereby to limit the scope of patentable novelty, the invention will be described hereinafter as it is employed in combination with a briquet in which charcoal is the conventional combustible material.

A fuel composition of the present invention, in the form of a briquet of the following constitution, is found to have an ignition time of ten to twelve seconds and a burning time of fifty-five minutes for a briquet of a volume of one to two cubic inches:

Percent Charcoal 60 Sodium nitrate 20 Sodium acetate 5 Binder (starch) 15 The proportions of ingredients in the foregoing composition may be varied within reasonable limits, for example:

Percent Charcoal (or other carbonaceous fuel) 60 to 80 Sodium nitrate (or potassium nitrate) 10 to 25 Sodium acetate 2 to 10 Binder (starch, asphalt or the like) The remainder Another composition having the desired properties is:

Percent Charcoal 61 Sodium nitrate 25 Manganese dioxide 10 Sodium bicarbonate 2 Binder (starch, asphalt or the like) 2 The proportions of ingredients in this composition may also be varied, for example:

Charcoal Percent Sodium nitrate (or potassium nitrate) 50 to Manganese dioxide 10 to 25 Sodium bicarbonate 2 to 10 Binder (starch, asphalt or the like) The remainder It will be obvious that the binder may be omitted when the briquets are formed in production equipment which does not require use of a binder to maintain the briquets in compact form.

It is also possible to substitute for certain ingredients in the first example certain of the ingredients in the second example and vice versa, depending upon the properties desired in the ultimate fuel composition, such as rate of ignition, burning temperature, combustion time, etc.

Among the unexpected results obtained by use of the present invention is the provision of a fuel in which the pre-ignition smoking of the combustible constituents is dissipated within thirty seconds after the flame is applied to the fuel composition. In addition, the fuel is relatively free from sparking or sputtering and, notwithstanding the aforementioned quick ignition time, will continue to burn as hot coals for periods ranging from one-half hour to an hour or more, particularly when the briquets have a minimum moisture content. Notwithstanding the quick ignition and kindling time, the fuel of the present invention has a burning temperature which is found to be satisfactory for use in outdoor and indoor charcoal grills.

The fuel composition of the present invention is also found to be extremely satisfactory for use in admixture with other fuels which are otherwise difiicult to ignite such as coke, anthracite coal, damp wood or logs. The composition may be dispersed in briquet form among lumps of the aforementioned fuels and its use is therefore not limited to homogeneous briquet form or solely as a fuel.

The fuel composition is also found to be extremely stable, briquets made from the composition retaining their effectiveness for as long as eighteen months.

It is evident from the foregoing description that suitable changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, wherefore it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claim, the features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

I claim:

A quick igniting non-sputtering fuel composition in briquet form having the approximate composition as follows:

Percent by weight Charcoal 60 to 80 Alkali nitrate 10 to 25 Sodium acetate 2 to 10 Binder The remainder References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,196 Watson Apr. 12, 1887 435,076 Pagenstecher Aug. 26, 1890 781,502 Dowell Jan. 31, 1905 

